For the Spécimens 24 exhibition, Olga Cafiero was given carte blanche to explore the collections of the Naturéum - Muséum cantonal des sciences naturelles in Lausanne. Meeting specialists in botany, geology and zoology, the photographer drew inspiration from their research methods. (In)animalis questions the museum as a place that transcends time and collects epochs. It generates many projections, such as memory and accumulated knowledge. In this sense, it becomes a heterotopia, ‘a place of all times’, a physical space that houses the imaginary, as defined by philosopher Michel Foucault.Through her photographs, Olga Cafiero captures the perpetual accumulation of time. For each series, she works with a particular technique: ultraviolet light, expired film or 3D models. By bringing her lens to bear on the Museum's collections, she brings out the individuality of the objects, which she reinforces by using different printing techniques.The objects, types and specimens photographed are inanimate. In working with these inert naturalia, the artist follows an approach similar to that of scientists in their exploration of the living world. He observes the inert to get closer to the living and offers a singular perspective on nature.
